ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 9-year-old daughter recently went over to her friend's house for a playdate. She was so excited to spend time with her friend, and everything seemed fine when I dropped her off. However, when I went to pick her up, her friend's mom pulled me aside and made a comment that really caught me off guard. She criticized my parenting ...Read more

DEAR READERS: I had a baby three months ago, and now it's time for me to go back to work. The thought of being away from my child is filling me with dread. I've used up all of my maternity leave and vacation time, so staying home longer isn't an option through work. I love my career, but the idea of leaving my baby in someone else's care feels ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was in a clandestine relationship with a guy for most of this year. We hit if off after meeting on the street. We had a lot of fun together, but I always felt like I was putting forth more effort than him. One day I confronted him about not being more responsive, and he quipped back that if I wanted to be with him, I had to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend "Fred's" daughter's birthday was approaching, and her friends wanted to surprise her. All of her friends met and shared their ideas for what to do. When her birthday arrived, they surprised her with balloons and food. To everyone's surprise, one of the guests blew out the candle for the birthday girl, which made her ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am the president of the parent-teacher association at my daughter's school, and at a recent meeting, the principal suggested that it is mandatory for us to buy food from the school canteen so that all the kids will have the same food and not feel jealous or envious of others who have more expensive options. What do you think I ...Read more